Senate of the Orethan Dominion
Overview
The Senate of the Orethan Dominion served as that empire's principal governing body, responsible for legislation and the administration of imperial affairs. It convened in the Senate House, situated on Quirinal Hill. According to A History of Rislandia, the Senate's authority was eventually curtailed entirely, leaving it a hollow institution by the later imperial period.
History
Corruption Under Augustan II
The Senate's decline into dysfunction began during the reign of Augustan II. According to A History of Rislandia, corruption was allowed to spread through the Senate during this period, weakening the body's integrity and making it susceptible to outside influence.
It was during this era that Sethran Corvus inserted himself into imperial politics, presenting himself to the Senate as a consultant. He advised senators on matters of legislation, though his counsel was calculated to subtly undermine unity within the body rather than strengthen it.
The Assassination of Benedictus
Among the darker episodes associated with the Senate's corrupt membership was the rumored involvement of certain senators in the assassination of High Priest Benedictus III. According to A History of Rislandia, corrupt senators were rumored to have employed the Shadowkin to carry out the killing, though the text presents this as rumor rather than established fact.
Nerovan's Consolidation and the Loss of Legislative Power
The Senate's role as a legislative institution came to an end under Emperor Nerovan the Mad. In Year 2 of his consolidation, Nerovan stripped the Senate of its legislative power, reducing it to a purely advisory capacity. Senators who objected to this diminishment were imprisoned. According to A History of Rislandia, this act effectively ended the Senate as a meaningful check on imperial authority.
Portsgate Representation
At some point in the Dominion's history, Portsgate was granted representation in the Senate as part of a treaty concluded in Year 98. According to A History of Rislandia, the terms of this agreement stipulated that Portsgate would pay reduced tariffs and receive a senatorial seat in exchange.
Legacy
The Senate of the Orethan Dominion stands in the historical record as an institution that failed to resist either internal corruption or external manipulation. Its neutralization by Nerovan marked a decisive step in the centralization of imperial power and contributed to the conditions that would eventually lead to the Fall of Oretha.